text:
FREE SHIPPING on orders to Canada & USA $75 or more
No Items
View & Edit cart
Cart subtotal:
{{cartproduct.Product.ProductHeader}} {{cartproduct.Product.Name}}
${{cartproduct.UnitPrice.toFixed(2)}} ${{cartproduct.Price.toFixed(2)}}
It's that simple, and that maxim holds true for every species. Either you can change with the tides or get swept away in their wake. Either you can grow or you can stagnate. Either you can stand out or simply be another face in the crowd. With their third album, American Capitalist [Prospect Park], Five Finger Death Punch—Ivan Moody [Vocals], Zoltan Bathory [Guitar], Jason Hook [Guitar], Jeremy Spencer [Drums], and Chris Kael [Bass]—morph into the melodic heavy metal machine that they've been moving towards since their 2007 debut, The Way of the Fist. Not only is their sound bigger; it's better. Not only has the music become more intricate; it's become more infectious. Not only are they more direct; they're more dangerous.
Evolution gave birth to American Capitalist. Since their formation in 2006, Five Finger Death Punch continue to progress in the face of all odds and opposition. Darwin himself would be impressed at their list of accolades. The Way of The Fist and 2009′s War is the Answer have both surpassed Gold status. Those two albums have spawned seven consecutive top ten singles at Active Rock Radio with "Bad Company" peaking at #1 and "Far From Home" hitting #2. Other tracks have appeared on the hit game Splatterhouse and NBC's Criminal Minds, with a brand new track set to appear on Madden 2012. The group has graced the cover of Revolver, Metal Hammer, and numerous other tastemaker publications as well as performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.They've massacred stages all over the world- everywhere from Download Festival, Rock am Ringand Rock im Park to Mayhem Festival. This was all via independent label and management company Prospect Park. Along the way, they've amassed a diehard, devout fan base fondly referred to as "Knuckleheads."
Right now, they're gearing up for the next phase of their evolution—the reign of American Capitalist.
"This record crystallizes the sound of Death Punch," says Bathory. "The band has really come into its own. Everyone contributed to the music, and this is what we are capable of as a unit."
Whether it's the anthemic riff beat down of "Back for More"—featured on the Madden NFL 2012soundtrack—or the ominous bass, gnashing guitars, and hypnotic vocals of "Generation Dead", each element enthralls. Five Finger Death Punch are about to seize their spot at the top of the musical food chain.
The assault commences with first single "Under and Over It". A propulsive thrash stomp from Bathory and Hook rolls into Moody's sharp lyrical jabs. The singer announces, "Did you hear the one about me being a punk? Did you hear the one about me being a drunk? Did you hear the one about me giving a shit, 'cause if I ever did I don't remember it."
Dispelling any and all rumors, the song targets shit-talkers of all kinds and silences them once and for all with a cataclysmic chorus.
"It's a statement that puts all of the bullshit to rest," declares Moody. "There's a dry sense of humor in the lyrics, and the song shows another side of the band. In the past, I've stuck to writing about relationships or personal issues. I wanted to lash back a little bit on this album." Bathory affirms, "For every fan, there's a hater. The overall message is to fight for your survival and success, but there's a little sarcasm in there too."
"It's a statement that puts all of the bullshit to rest," declares Moody. "There's a dry sense of humor in the lyrics, and the song shows another side of the band. In the past, I've stuck to writing about relationships or personal issues. I wanted to lash back a little bit on this album."
Bathory affirms, "For every fan, there's a hater. The overall message is to fight for your survival and success, but there's a little sarcasm in there too."
In early February 2011, the band retreated to "The Hideout" in Las Vegas, NV with producer Kevin Churko [Ozzy Osbourne] to record. Until June, each member brought numerous ideas to the table, encouraging the expansion of their collective sound. Before entering the studio, Moody hunkered down in his grandparents' cabin in the mountains of Colorado. It was the perfect spot for him to truly dig inside of for lyrics. In addition, he penned tunes on the road while relocating to Nevada and at night in his new abode. He wasn't going to hold back at all, and as gut-wrenching as the process was, the results are glorious.
"When I write, I quarantine myself," he reveals. "I shut everybody out, and I made it a point to deliver so much emotionally. Around midnight every night when the world shuts down, I would turn on my studio equipment, crank the songs as loud as I could, and get deep."
"Deep" is an understatement when it comes to cuts like the deft, divine, and deadly "Coming Down". A violent energy courses through the verse after an airy acoustic intro. Another visceral buildup crashes into one of Moody's bleakest melodies. "The song came at one of those points where you feel like you've done so much and you're given so little in return for it," he recalls. "You're trying to please the whole world, and you've got to pull back and realize that, at the end of the day, it has to be about you first and foremost. Otherwise, you're useless to anyone else."
Then there's "If I Fall." It's another pummeling canvas for the band to bleed over, complete with a piano bridge and sledgehammer of a hook. Bathory adds, "On that song, we purposefully merge musical landscapes. Classical guitar and full blown heavy metal collide. It's about creating a complex journey of visualization, emotion, and feeling with every song."
"Menace" and "100 Ways To Hate" bludgeon and batter with every note, while "Everything" sees Moody allowing fans closer than ever via a harrowing and hypnotic tale of his own past. He continues, "There's so much honesty in this album. Instead of writing about metaphors, I went straight for the jugular."
The album's very title holds an important message. Bathory explains,
"America adopted a form of capitalism that closely resembles the dynamics of nature. Darwinism and capitalism share many similarities. You get your shot at greatness, and it's up to you to take it or not. You can be a zebra or join the lion pride. You have to rebel against your circumstances, laziness, and mediocrity—not the system. The best will make it, and that notion is genetically embedded within our fabric. If we were all equal, evolution wouldn't exist. The human spirit encourages us to excel."
That same spirit has pushed Five Finger Death Punch to develop a formidable stage show for the ages to accompany these songs live. For Bathory, the show is of paramount importance: "I want to interpret this record visually and make it as big and crazy as possible."Ultimately, Five Finger Death Punch is making music for the lions. Bathory goes on,
"This music is for survivors. People listen to different bands to get into a certain mood. I want people to fucking feel like lions when they listen to this. Here you go brother, go kill it."
Moody concludes, "I literally laid every ounce of blood I had on the street with this one. We are a people's band. Our fans admire and understand us because of who we are. We've never tried to be anybody else. We're Five Finger Death Punch."
Verify your spelling or use less filters and try your search again.


text: Earrings For Girls have evolved significantly and are available in a plethora of plating these days such as rhodium, rose-gold, rose gold and silver. Moreover, you can also choose from a variety of base materials, stone types, and a palette of colors. Check out our remarkable range of Zaveri Pearls Earrings For Girls and The Black Bow Earrings For Girls, as they have some of the amazing collection of women's jewelry.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Star Wars fans offered Blu-ray deals and previews
Panasonic uses 'the force' to sell format
The force was strong at London's O2 Arena this morning, with the first public preview of Star Wars in high definition on Blu-ray. The eagerly awaited discs, collected together as Star Wars: The Complete Saga, will go on sale September 12th, but visitors to this weekend's Empire Big Screen film festival have a chance to see(3PO) them early. The Empire Big Screen event runs Friday through Sunday (14 - 16 August).
As part of the Blu-ray extras package, fans also get to HD views of the various models used.
Darth Vader and his stormtroopers, sponsored by Panasonic, are hosting the Blu-ray Experience at the venue's Proud2 nightclub. Visitors will see Blu-ray sequences from all six movies, plus a sneak peek from 40-hours of special features.
Fans will also be invited to share and record their own personal Star Wars story as part of the Star Wars Stories Project, the official Lucasfilm fandom documentary.
Nothing to see here, move along...
If sneak peeks aren't enough for you, the iconic series will be available as one mega box set of all six movies, the nine-disc Star Wars: The Complete Saga, as well as the three disc Star Wars: Original Blu-ray Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) and three disc Star Wars: Prequel Blu-ray Trilogy (Episodes I-III). The studio says films will not be released individually, and you'll only get the fascinating extras as part of The Complete Saga.
Based on this morning's preview, it looks like the original trio are the big beneficiaries of the HD remastering, with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope looking particularly spectacular. While Phantom Menace, Revenge of the Sith and Attack of the Clones all have a generic CGI sheen, the original looks refreshingly real and textured on BD. Fans are likely to explode with excitement when they see it.
The software industry has high hopes of Star Wars' Blu-ray arrival, with some saying its release will herald a tipping point for Blu-ray as a mainstream format. Adding weight to the event were cast and crew from the various productions.
Bill George, Visual Effect Supervisor for Industrial Light and Magic, was candid about the what viewers could expect from this release:
"The original films were obviously shot on film and have never been seen at this resolution before. We're seeing new things within the movies now that we've never seen before. It's exciting but scary – people will actually see that what we did was not perfect. The BD extras show the original props and models in such high resolution you can see globules of paint. Hopefully, people will think it's charming.These Blu-rays will be a really great way to appreciate the craft of the films."
Ant Daniels and Nick Gillard give their perspective on 3D formats
Anthony Daniels – the unforgettable voice of android C3PO – remarked on the enduring nature of the Star Wars saga:
"It's astonishing to think that when we were shooting the original Star Wars, the video recorder was new technology. And now we're coming out in Hi-Def."
When pushed on plans to convert titles to 3D, Daniels added:
"I've been involved in the remaking of the Star Wars Tours theme ride, which has really great 3D effects. That's the place for the technology, I think. To be honest, I don't expect things to jump out of the screen at me when I'm at home."
Nick Gillard, Stunt Co-ordinator for the series was even more blunt: "Pah, I hate 3D," he said.
That added dimension does tend to split audiences and with movies downloads prevalent too, Blu-ray's disc-based content is another area where consumers need persuasion. However, Vincent Marcais, Fox's Senior Vice President of International Home Entertainment Marketing was bullish about the format:
"Movie makers have always been vocal supporters of Blu-ray," he says "but when you have a guy like George Lucas saying you haven't seen Star Wars until you've seen it on Blu-ray, you can't ignore the message."
Effective from today, buyers of any Panasonic Blu-ray player (bar the cheapest) or BD home cinema system will be able to claim a complimentary copy of Star Wars: The Original Trilogy. Redemption is done on-line. "This way customers will have their discs on the day of release," says Panasonic's Blu-ray head David Preece. "The release of Star Wars on Blu-ray will be a turning point for the format," he adds. The offer, a UK exclusive, is expected to run through the Christmas period. ®


text:
You Can't Put Butter On a Crane's Head Fabric - Vivid Black Cotton Linen
Signature Print
Colour: Vivid Black
Material: Cotton Linen
Weight & Durability: 418 gsm, 32000 rubs.
Width & Repeat: 137 cm, Vertical: 38 cm, Horizontal: 41 cm
All approx.
This vibrant collection of flora and fauna prints are based on idioms, kahaavat, from a diversity of Indian languages. This collection will brighten up any home or interior that is an invitation to easy living and exudes a sense of freedom and nostalgia.
- Eco friendly: Printing dyes are GOTS certified and meet Inditex 'Clear to Wear' criteria.
- Original design created in our studio.
Rub test: All of our upholstery fabrics are tested as per The Martindale Rub test which is a measure of the durability and suitability of a fabric for various uses – i.e. frequently used sofas, decorative accent chairs or commercial heavy-duty use.
British Standard 2543 specifies the following rub counts for end-use applications:
Light domestic – 15,000 rubs
General domestic – 20,000 rubs
Heavy domestic – 25,000 rubs
Severe domestic/general contract – 30,000 rubs
Care: Dry Clean. Do not expose to direct sunlight
Return and Refunds: We take responsibility for free replacement or refund of defective or wrong items sent, as per our T&C's.
India Sales: Includes shipping and applicable taxes.
International Sales: Shipping, Customs duties, and taxes are extra. See Terms and Conditions.


text:
How do you feel about the color purple, or purple with splashes of magenta? What about cauliflower, are you a fan or not so much? I love the color purple and cauliflower is a vegetable I've come to really enjoy. So when Mother Nature put these two elements together I felt like they were made for me…and you too of course. Living in a place where the most exotic produce, or even some that many of you consider everyday ingredients, aren't always available means that when new products are introduced to the local market I don't miss the opportunity to try them out. Such was the case in this gorgeously vibrant purple cauliflower.
How many of you have already tasted purple cauliflower? I have only seen it in photographs and in person only a few days ago. Honestly I wasn't sure whether it was a colorful head of broccoli or cauliflower since it was displayed between both and without a sign, it was only after consulting the internet then it became clear.
For the most part the cauliflower is purple but there were specks of magenta and even lighter shades of a pinkish color. The scent was like that of it's white counterpart, a light cabbage scent. Though the size of the head I purchase was comparable to white varieties stacked alongside it, the weight was considerably less. The purple one felt much lighter and the stalks are skinner and less dense. I loved that the leaves were green and some were purple with sprinklings of green and white along the lines.
When it comes to cooking a new ingredient I am always super excited and very inspired to photograph it. I know there are so many photos in this post but in fact many, many more photos were snapped — I just won't bore you with all of them.
One of the things I love most about photography is that every once in a while everything falls into place better than you could have imagined it. That was the case in the photo above. As I played around with the leaves and shooting angles I suddenly noticed how the light was falling in that one small section, how it made it seem transparent and glowing at the same time. The shot came out somewhat abstract and the light couldn't have been better.
I really don't want to insult you with a typed recipe for roasting cauliflower, but I will share one anyway — incase there are any of you who have never eaten purple cauliflower and would like a little help cooking it.
- 1 head of purple cauliflower (weight was 700 gm or 1.5 lb)
- 2 tbsp good quality olive oil
- 1-2 tsp granulated garlic, adjust to taste (I used 2)
- sea salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- fresh lemon juice, optional
- Preheat the oven to 200c or 390f and line a baking sheet with baking paper or aluminum foil. In a bowl combine the olive oil, granulated garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Remove all the leaves from the cauliflower, cut into small even sided florets and toss them with the mixed oil and spices until well coated. Lay on prepared baking sheet and roast in center of oven.
- Total roasting time will depend on the size of florets but they should be roasted until fork tender. I roasted mine for about 8 on one side then flipped for a further 8 minutes. Splash with freshly squeezed lemon juice before serving if desired.
Roasting cauliflower gives it a unique flavour, and if you allow some pieces to caramelize this adds a slight smokiness. The addition of garlic and the splash of lemon juice help bring out extras taste that all really compliments each other so well. My husband and I very much enjoyed eating cauliflower this way, I loved the deep purple color it became after roasting, and will definitely roast both purple and white cauliflower again.
If there is some barbecuing in your weekend plans I think throwing cauliflower on the grill would be great. Have a great weekend everyone!


text:
Al Jazeera dropped a bombshell last week when it revealed the results of a 9-month investigation suggesting the late Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, could have been poisoned with a radioactive isotope, Polonium-210.
(Full Disclosure: I am not a physician, nor a clinical toxicologist for that matter, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Thus, I'll defer to scholarly research from the field when it comes to the science involved here)
Here is what we know: Arafat was in good health for his age prior to falling violently ill. A few weeks after the onset of this illness he was dead. Several elements in Arafat's medical circumstances are consistent with Polonium poisoning. Sudden onset of severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea without fever, which Arafat experienced, is the typical first stage of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) which can result from the ingestion of Polonium-210. It should be noted here that the vast majority of cases of ARS are results of accidents or exposure to radiation, not necessarily ingestion. The cases of ingestion of radioactive materials are (thankfully) few but the medical understanding of expected biological behavior is likewise limited.
Polonium-210 became best known after the poisoning and death of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian agent turned dissident, in 2006. The medical literature on polonium poisoning, particularly from ingestion, grew significantly after the Litvinenko episode (two years after Arafat's death).
Along with the first phase of ARS, other indicators of polonium poisoning were also present in Arafat's case. The second or latent phase or ARS is a period during which many patients appear to recover briefly for a period of days or even weeks before turning again for the worst. This is precisely what happened with Arafat.
From there, the next phase of ARS is the nastiest and it can involve one of four pathways including the Bone Marrow, the Gastrointestinal System (GI), the Nervous System and Cutaneous Radiation Syndrome (Skin deformities and in the case of Polonium ARS only; possible hair loss). One study notes that ingestion of Po-210 can cause similar but not identical symptoms to other forms of ARS. In short, the above means that Arafat's symptoms and Litvenanko's symptoms do not have to be identical for both of them to have suffered from a polonium poisoning induced form of ARS. Dismissing the possibility of Polonium poisoning in Arafat based on disparities from some of Litvinenko's symptoms is like dismissing oranges as fruit because they don't taste like apples. There are simply too few data points on record of Po-210 ingestion to make such sweeping generalizations.
Further, not only can symptoms vary between ARS patients, they also vary depending on dosage and can appear at varied times from the initial exposure. Reports on Arafat's bone marrow, for example, were not consistent with ARS but as one study puts it, that could be because "death usually supervenes before the major peripheral blood consequences of bone marrow depression are observed." It goes on to state that "scalp epilation," or hair loss, as in the case of Litvinenko, "occurs relatively late." It could simply be the case that the much older Arafat died before the manifestation of other indicators, particularly if the dosage varied.
We also know that after falling ill Arafat suffered from Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), a blood disorder that is diagnosed after thrombocytopenia (another of Arafat's symptoms so severe he needed transfusions) which is one of the effects of Polonium poisoning on the blood and can lead to multiple organ failure. After eliminating common causes of DIC including known viral, bacterial and cancer-related possibilities, doctors were baffled by what caused it.
DIC, it turns out, is noted in multiple studies as a possible complication of ARS. Coma and Jaundice, two other features of Arafat's final medical condition before death, are noted characteristics in multiple organ involved ARS.
Several of Arafat's symptoms are consistent with polonium poisoning but others are not. Nothing can be conclusively determined without an autopsy and even then we may never know for sure.
What we do know for sure, however, is that Swiss scientists found unexplained elevated levels of Po-210 in biological stains on Arafat's belongings that were not naturally occurring. An unavoidable question is outstanding: How did it get there?
The answer to this question is one of two conspiracy theories. The first is that the Po-210 was planted in the specimens by the journalists in collusion with Arafat's widow. This would involve obtaining the radioactive material, which can only be produced in nuclear facilities, calculating the precise microscopic amounts in a magnitude that would correspond to the expected level at a fraction of nanograms and then inserting it into the biological stains (which we know were Arafat's thanks to DNA testing) and not anywhere else on his items. This would also have to involve advanced scientific collusion as well to pull the wool over the well-trained eyes of the scientists conducting the analysis.
The second conspiracy theory is infinitely more plausible and straightforward; Arafat was poisoned by Polonium-210 and that is the explanation for the 'mystery illness' that baffled dozens of doctors in 2004.
Israel becomes a prime suspect for a number of reasons. First, Israel has overtly and covertly assassinated countless Palestinian leaders. Second, Israel demonstrated not only the will and capacity to kill Palestinian leaders but has used poisons in the past to do so. Third, Israel has the capacity to produce Polonium-210 as well as an array of other radioactive elements in its nuclear facilities. Finally, Israel's Prime Minister stated he would 'remove' Arafat to "create the conditions for the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership with which it will be possible to make real peace" and made it explicitly clear that assassinating Arafat was an option a few months before Arafat fell ill. Could someone else be behind it? Perhaps, of all the parties or players to suspect, only Israel has both the advanced nuclear capacity to create Po-210 and the motive to do away with Arafat
So is the first scenario possible? Sure, I suppose. I suppose it is also possible for me (I'm 5'9") to beat Lebron James in a Slam Dunk contest. Both of these feats are equally 'realistic'.
Betting men should put their money on scenario two. As Israel demonstrated the history, capacity and declared intent to carry out such an act.
If a post-mortem autopsy lends further evidence to suggest Arafat was in fact assassinated, it would likely kick more dirt on the grave of the long dead peace process no one should bother to exhume.
After all, when it comes to the peace process we all know the cause of death; unending Israeli colonization—perhaps they will call the next settlement Polonium Adumim.


text:
The ESCALAS sofas can be composed combining different elements such as: upholstered seats, arms of different formats, privacy panels and tabletops, over horizontal aluminum platforms of different sizes. A highly customizable collection that stands out for its elegance and timeless design.
In the image: upholstered 80cm modular seat with back for sofa.


text: Hey, my friend forgot his password to a site and logs in because IE fills in his password for him. Well, is there a way he can find his password in plain text? I don't think those programs that remove asterisks will work because it's an HTML text box, not one within Windows. Any suggestions?


text:
Sunday, October 28, 2012
If there's a silver lining in the poll resurgence Mitt Romney experienced after he cynically rebranded himself as a moderate in the first debate, it's that no one ought to be able to argue ever again that Republicans do best when they run as movement conservatives. Romney ran that way for months, and he languished in the polls against the president; then he shook the Etch A Sketch, started talking like a right-centrist, and pulled even in the popular vote.
Add that to a likely defeat for Todd Akin, a possible loss for Richard Mourdock, and -- who knows, given the fact that the polls are all over the map -- a photo finish between Democrat Richard Carmona and Republican Jeff Flake in Arizona, as well as the possible (likely?) rejection of even moderate-seeming Republicans in Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Massachusetts because of concerns in those states about the direction of the GOP as a whole, and the message ought to be clear: Republicans need to stop being the crazy, extreme party. Voters want Republicans to moderate their views and their rhetoric. Voters want Republicans to back off on extreme positions regarding women, gay people, and immigrants. Change with the times or wither and die. Do as a party what Mitt Romney did as a candidate.
But that won't be the takeaway from this election, for a couple of reasons:
1. Rush Limbaugh
2. Roger Ailes
I think Limbaugh will be too canny to try to argue, as he usually does, that Republicans do best when they run as conservatives -- he'll certainly have a hell of a time making that case if "Moderate Mitt" wins (or nearly wins) the popular vote, and if Romney nearly wins (or, God help us, wins) the Electoral College. So Limbaugh will drop the subject. He won't talk at all about whether this refutes his thesis.
But he are his hundreds of radio imitators have too much invested in the good-vs.-evil narrative to stop pushing it. So they'll go right back to it in the next four years. And Ailes -- well, he just signed another four-year deal to run Fox News, so he's not going to let up.
(In fact, Ailes's right-wing paranoia is becoming so noticeable that even mainstream journalists are starting to detect it. As Media Matters notes, Gabriel Sherman of New York magazine believes Ailes puts Peter Johnson, his personal attorney, on the air at Fox to talk about Ailes's own conspiracy theories -- for instance, that "the Obama administration may have 'sacrificed Americans' as a 'political calculation' in Benghazi" or that Obama "might send American citizens to be tried and executed in Egypt in order to appease anti-American extremists.")
A third reason the GOP won't mellow is that it's still going to be impossible to win a Republican primary in 2014 and 2016 without appealing to the extreme right. Fox and talk radio are by far the biggest recruiting tools for the GOP, and they're sure as hell not encouraging moderation. The moderate voters just aren't there.
Fourth, the paymasters of the GOP now will be the paymasters going forward, and they're not going to mellow.
And, finally, right after the election the mainstream press is going to spend so much time talking about what Obama did wrong this fall that we'll barely hear a word about how Republicans utterly failed to win a winnable election.
It's too bad, because the progressives who keep telling us we have to reject Democrats for failing to live up to our principles (hello, Matt Stoller) might have a point if genuinely right-centrist Republicans could regain some of their lost power, and if a right-centrist had a chance of leading the GOP ticket in 2016.
You could make a case for sitting out an election between an Eisenhower Republican party (the Democrats) and a Bob Dole Republican party (the Republicans). But we're not going to get there, even though the #1 lesson of this election ought to be that the GOP should get there.
7 comments:
- Rob Patterson said...
I don't know much about Limbaugh, but I assume (if Romney) loses that he will take the position that Romney was never a true conservative and failed for that reason; therefore, Republicans DO do best when they both are, and run as, far right conservatives.
- Unknown said...
Oh, if Romney wins there will be NO analysis about how he won; it'll be "suck it libtards" 24/7 for about three years. And the oft-repeated difficulties of an incumbent winning when the unemployment rate is above whatever% will also go out the window. All we'll hear about is what a commanding lead Obama had in September and how he pissed it away because debate teleprompter blah blah blah.
And it won't just come from FOX or Limbaugh, either.
Meanwhile, the Republicans will pull off the same switch on gay rights and immigration that they did on Vietnam and, nowadays, Iraq. From "it was grand and glorious and perfect SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP" to "Well duh, EVERYONE knows it was a mistake" as soon as it's convenient.
Mitt Romney saying he didn't want another Iraq, four years after screaming about how awesome the first one was, was probably the most under-reported moment of the last debate.
Right up there with McCain smearing Colin Powell by saying "Yeah, HE's the one who got us into Iraq!" as if it was some disqualifying event (for a Republican). - 12:12 PM
- Victor said...
'Fear and Loathing' will continue on the campaign trail until at least 2016.
They need to lose in this election and the next Presidential election in 2016, lest we turn into an Evangelical Fascist Plutocracy.
By 2020, most of the oldest and craziest of the old crazies, will be dead and buried.
There will always be a Fascist wing to the Republicans. Especially in the Red Congressional Districts and Red States. And Paul Ryan will be with us for a long, long, time.
But by that time, without being able to recall the Civil Rights Acts, and with the demographics going against them, they will continue to flush themselves down histories toilet.
Btw, Steve, and other readers and commenters, I hope everyone stays safe until Franenstorm Sandy passes over the NE. - 12:43 PM
- Victor said...
Oh, and if you don't hear from me for awhile, it's probably because we're out of power.
Stay safe, everyone!!! - 12:44 PM
- Steve M. said...
Oh, and if you don't hear from me for awhile, it's probably because we're out of power.
Same here. Good luck (to all)....
- Ten Bears said...
I dropped out a couple of months ago, fell back to lurking, as I grew pretty damned sick of it all. What an incredibly ugly reflection on us all.
But now that my paper with the double super secret security envelopes to either be mailed or hand delivered has been hand delivered to the strong box... please let me reiterate a couple of long running observations:
As with ought-eight, they are throwing the election to Obama. There is no way the American people will elect or re-elect people as offensive as these animals have become. It beggars our integrity. So, unless they have a real high degree of confidence that Tagg Romney's acquisition of Diabold's Descendant will turn out the votes in seventeen states, they're throwing the election to Obama.
I firmly believe we are witnessing the end of the Republican Party, it cannot continue as it has in the 21st century. It's a statistical impossibility. The frightening aspect of that is of course that nature abhors a vacuum.
And finally, historians will mark the appointment of a dynastic frat boy with limited intelligence and education, even more limited experience and a questionable service record by an ideologically stacked activist court to the highest office in the land as The End of "America". We are where we are at on momentum, and it's running out. Whatever the outcome - my personal feeling is Obama will be re-elected, and the white dogs will start a race war - we are about to live in very interesting times. - 9:35 PM
- Philo Vaihinger said...
Rick, about those conservatives who flipped on Vietnam after the fact.
Uh, who were they, exactly?
McCain, Buchanan . . .
The only guys I know about were just as wrong in the same old way about Vietnam in 2004 as they had been in 1964.
They never flipped.
So who did? - 12:22 PM


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
City Code Chapter 75 (45-46) describes the billing and collection methods in effect for stormwater service management fees. An amendment has been made to the current code which further clarifies the billing processes and to provides enforcement options for delinquent storm water accounts.
Residential storm water charges are currently billed through the Utility Billing System and collected when payment is made for utility services. Non-residential stormwater is billed through a separate system. By the end of the current fiscal year, all non-residential storm water accounts will be billed through the Utility Billing System, allowing staff to bill, track, and collect all stormwater charges from one central system. Any delinquent storm water balances owed at the time of system transition will be moved and billed in the new system.
Show All Answers
The origins of stormwater service in the United States can be traced back to an incident which occurred on Ohio's Cuyahoga River. In 1936, the river caught fire when the spark of a blow torch ignited the floating oils and debris. The Cuyahoga River caught fire again in 1952 causing over $1 million in damages to boats and a riverfront property. During the 1960s, the lower part of the river had become saturated with debris, oils, sludge, industrial wastes, and sewage. National attention was brought to the river when another fire occurred on June 22, 1969. Time Magazine wrote and article about the fire and described the Cuyahoga River as the river that "oozes rather than flows" and in which a person "does not drown but decays." The national coverage led to a series of pollution control activities which ultimately resulted in the Clean Water Act and the creation of the federal and state Environmental Protection Agencies.
In 1972, the Clean Water Act was passed and remains today as the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the United States. The goal of the Clean Water Act was nothing less then the restoration and maintenance of the nation's waters so that they could support "the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and recreation in and on the water."
The initial focus of the Clean Water Act was on the source of pollution. Discharges from industry and municipal sewage facilities as well as those which could be identified as coming from a specific source or point were the primary concern. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) provides a permit program which continues address the pollution today. After years of issuing NPDES permits and regulating dischargers, it became evident that stormwater runoff was also a serious contributor to the problem of maintaining water quality.
In 1987, the Water Quality Act was passed, and the EPA required states to regulate stormwater runoff and to prepare nonpoint source management programs. The nonpoint programs were intended to manage nondirect sources of pollution such as stormwater. One of the biggest sources of pollution and the number one threat to surface water quality is stormwater runoff.
The City of Winston-Salem is a Phase I community (a population over 100,000). As a result, the City of Winston-Salem has been mandated under the Water Quality Act of 1987 to develop a stormwater management program. The city received an NPDES permit and began its stormwater utility program in 1995.
Phase II expands the scope of the NPDES program to include smaller local governments serving populations of less than 100,000 (a population of 1,000 people or more per square mile). The stormwater Phase II program requires most municipalities and local governments to obtain NPDES permit coverage. These local governments have been mandated to establish a stormwater management program. The program indicates the development and implementation of six specified measures which assist in the reduction of stormwater pollution. These include the following:
Sec. 75-43. Stormwater management system utility.
Pursuant to state law the city hereby designates the stormwater management system as a utility, enterprise activity of the city to be supported all or in part by the imposition of user fees on all developed parcels of property within the city which discharges stormwater to the storm drainage facilities or are otherwise served by the storm drainage facilities.
(Ord. No. 4536, § 3, 10-24-05)
For more information regarding the stormwater problem and the stormwater department, visit our webpage.
The Storm Water Fee pays for storm water programs in Winston-Salem. A portion of all Winston-Salem stormwater revenue goes to citywide efforts to reduce flood risks, improve water quality, and restore streams. Drainage systems inside the City includes channels, pipes, storm drains, and culverts on private property and in the street right-of-way.
For property owners inside the City, approximately:
73% of fee revenue goes to storm water projects inside the City limits15% of fee revenue goes to NPDES compliance related efforts12% of fee revenue goes to administrative and billing costs
The Stormwater Division of Traffic Field Operations is responsible for administrating and executing the City of Winston-Salem's stormwater plans.
Stormwater, City of Winston-SalemSuite 53, City Hall, 101 N. Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101Mail to P.O.Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102-2511Voice (336) 748-3070, Fax (336) 748-3173
To find out more about your stormwater bill, please contact the Stormwater Collections and the Stormwater Collections staff can be reached at (336) 748-3221.
It depends on whether the citizen has residential or non-residential property. A non-residential citizen typically owns a commercial business, industrial firm, or is a landlord who rents the property. A residential citizen owns a single-family homeowner property.
Residential customers are billed bi-monthly and the stormwater fee will appear on the normal utility bill (see next FAQ). If the citizen does not have another utility service such as water or sewer then he will receive a separate stormwater bill.
Non-residential citizens will be billed monthly, and the stormwater fee will appear on their normal utility bill. If the citizen does not have another utility service such as water or sewer, then he will receive a separate stormwater bill. With landlord/tenant relationships, the tenant may receive the utility bill, but a separate stormwater bill may be sent to the landlord. This situation requires special arrangements/documentation with the Stormwater Collections Department.
The citizen can locate their current stormwater fee on their utility bill as a separate line item labeled "Stormwater Fee". If they do not have other utility services they will receive a separate stormwater bill. For questions regarding your stormwater bill, please contact the Stormwater Collections staff at 336-748-3221.
The April 16 and June 18, 2007 amendments to Ordinance Sections 75-45 and 75-46 of the City Code allows the termination of water utility services for non-payment of stormwater fees. In other words, the customer's water may be cut-off for non-payment of stormwater fees.
The previous residential stormwater fee was simply a flat rate of $51/yr billed bi-monthly at $8.50/month.
The new structure determines the fee based on the amount of impervious surface area on the property. Impervious surface areas include driveways, buildings, construction sites, and farms. The fee structure is progressive meaning that a higher rate is charged for larger amounts of impervious surface area. This is the same principle as the progressive income tax.
The change to a tiered fee structure was motivated by considerations of engineering reality and social equity and fairness. It is an engineering fact that the impact and cost of runoff from impervious surfaces increases more than proportionately as the size of the area increases. For example, if a mansion is only four times as large as a cottage, the impact and cost of its runoff will be more than four times as great. Therefore, properties having more impervious surface due to large houses, driveways, tennis courts, sidewalks should pay more than less affluent properties. In summary, more affluent citizens (reflected in the size of their houses etc.) can afford and should bear a proportionately larger share of the cost.
The tiers are designed so that citizens with smaller impervious surface areas will not see an increase in the fee and, could possibly see a reduction. Those citizens with larger areas may see an increase in the fee.
If the impervious surface area is…Between 1 and 2,000 sq ft then the fee will be $51 annually or $8.50 bi-monthlyBetween 2,001 and 4,000 sq ft then the fee will be $54 annually or $9.00 bi-monthlyBetween 4,001 and 6,000 sq ft then the fee will be $81 annually or $13.50 bi-monthlyMore than 6,000 sq ft then the fee will be $108 annually or $18.00 bi-monthly.
The customer should contact Stormwater Staff at 336-727-8000 or CityLink 311 to discuss the issue and request a re-measurement of their property's impervious area.
Other communities may offer fee exemptions if runoff from the property does not impact the public drainage system or if a property owner installs a stormwater management control that is not a result of a development requirement in order to improve water quality or to reduce flooding within applicable standards.
City of Winston-Salem does not currently have a fee credit policy. However, a property owner may reduce stormwater fees by reducing the amount impervious area of the billed property. This reduction can be reported to the City and the bill would be reduced based on the amount of impervious area removed.
It depends…
For most residential customers the impervious surface area was determined from aerial photographs (called ortho photography). The digitized photos are individually examined and the impervious areas are outlined using digitizing software tools. This process was performed on over 150,000 parcels in 2005. In some cases, the impervious area may be determined from builder or contractor site plans and drawings and sometimes by direct physical measurements taken by the Stormwater Department.
Non-residential impervious surface areas are determined from builder site plans or direct measurement.
In cases where the impervious surface area is in dispute, a stormwater staff member can be requested to visit the site and physically perform a measurement of the impervious surface area.
The billed impervious surface area for a location can be found on your utility bill or by contacting Stormwater Collections at 336-748-3221.
For residential locations, once the amount of impervious area is determined then the billing tier can be found as follows:
If the impervious surface area is…Between 1 and 2,000 sq ft then the location is in Tier 1 Between 2,001 and 4,000 sq ft then the location is in Tier 2Between 4,001 and 6,000 sq ft then the location is in Tier 3More than 6,000 sq ft then the location is in Tier 4
Non-residential stormwater fees are not tiered.
The calculation differs between residential and non-residential accounts. Residential locations use a tiered structure while the non-residential fee is simply proportional to the amount of impervious area. Both calculations and examples are explained in detail in Appendix B.
For residential locations the stormwater fee is determined as follows:
If the impervious surface area is…Between 1 and 2,000 sq ft then the fee will be $51 anually or $8.50 bi-monthlyBetween 2,001 and 4,000 sq ft then the fee will be $54 annually or $9.00 bi-monthlyBetween 4,001 and 6,000 sq ft then the fee will be $81 annually or $13.50 bi-monthlyMore than 6,000 sq ft then the fee will be $108 annually or $18.00 bi-monthly.
For non-residential locations the monthly stormwater fee is determined as follows:
$19.08 x (impervious area in square feet) / 1000 x 12
Impervious surface area: Any part of any parcel that has been modified by the action of any person in a manner which reduces the land's natural ability to absorb and hold storm and surface water. This includes the grading of the property and/or creation of any hard surface area which either prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil mantle, and/or the hardening of an existing surface which causes water to flow at an increased rate. By way of example, common impervious areas include, but are not limited to, roof tops, walkways, patios, driveways, parking lots or storage areas, concrete or asphalt paving, gravel roads, or any cleared, graded, graveled, or compacted surface or paved earthen materials used for vehicular travel, or areas covered with surfaces which similarly impeded the natural infiltration of surface water into the soil mantle.


text:
Temporal lobes
About.com declares concerning the temporal lobes: "The temporal lobes are one of the four main lobes or regions of the cerebral cortex. Structures of the limbic system, including the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus are located within the temporal lobes. The temporal lobes play an important role in organizing sensory input, auditory perception, language and speech production, as well as memory association and formation."[1]
The temporal lobes are two areas of the brain located above the ears, near the temples (hence the name). Auditory information travels directly to the temporal lobes, making them the primary site where hearing is registered. Thus, damage to the temporal lobes can lead to severe auditory inhibition.
Dr. Rhawn Joseph writes:
" | The temporal lobes are unique. These are the only regions of the brain that subserves personalized, subjective emotional and social experience and can store and recall this information from memory. The temporal lobes also contains the core structures of the limbic system involved in emotion and memory, the amygdala and hippocampus.[2] | " |
According to the Center for Neuro Skills:
" | Kolb & Wishaw (1990) have identified eight principle symptoms of temporal lobe damage: 1) disturbance of auditory sensation and perception, 2) disturbance of selective attention of auditory and visual input, 3) disorders of visual perception, 4) impaired organization and categorization of verbal material, 5) disturbance of language comprehension, 6) impaired long-term memory, 7) altered personality and affective behavior, 8) altered sexual behavior.[3] | " |


text:
By Marius Zaharia and Joyce Zhou
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday Hong Kong's protest movement had reached "near terrorism" and more street clashes followed ugly scenes the previous day when protesters set upon men they suspected of being government sympathizers.
The United States said it was "deeply concerned" at news of Chinese paramilitary police movement near the border, urged Hong Kong's government to respect freedom of speech, and issued a travel advisory urging caution when visiting the city.
By nightfall, police and protesters were again facing off on the streets, with riot officers shooting tear gas almost immediately as their response to demonstrators toughens.
Ten weeks of increasingly violent confrontation between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
Flights resumed on Wednesday amid heightened security at Hong Kong airport, one of the world's busiest. This followed two days of disruptions sparked by protesters swarming the airport, where, late on Tuesday, they detained two men they suspected opposed them.
China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing called the behavior at the airport no different to terrorism and said it must be severely punished.
"We're deeply sorry about what happened yesterday," read a banner held up by a group of a few dozen demonstrators in the airport arrivals hall in the morning.
"We were desperate and we made imperfect decisions. Please accept our apologies," the banner said.
In chaotic scenes that would once have been unthinkable for Hong Kong, a peaceful sit-in at the airport turned violent late on Tuesday as protesters confronted and held a man they believed was an undercover Chinese agent.
Busloads of riot police arrived in response, clashing with furious demonstrators before withdrawing once the man was removed, and leaving the terminal briefly in control of activists who then briefly detained a reporter from China's Global Times newspaper, a nationalistic tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily.
It was not clear whether the scenes of violence might have eroded the broad support the movement has so far attracted in Hong Kong, a major financial hub. The protests have also hit the city's faltering economy.
"We promise to reflect and to improve," protesters said in one message distributed on social media app Telegram.
"Sorry we were too reckless ... we are only afraid of losing your support to the whole movement due to our mistake, and that you give up on fighting."
There has been little sign of a letup in the protests, which began in opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed the extradition of suspects for trial in mainland China, but have swelled into wider calls for democracy.
Hundreds attended a demonstration in the residential area of Sham Shui Po, where police arrived and quickly used tear gas after protesters pointed lasers at the police station.
China used its strongest language yet after Tuesday's incidents. The People's Daily called for "using the sword of the law" to restore order, and mainland social media users lauded the detained reporter as a hero.
The U.S. State Department called for restraint, and a spokeswoman warned that continued erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy put at risk the privileged status it enjoys under U.S. law.
Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that promised wide-ranging freedoms denied to citizens in mainland China, and it enjoys preferential U.S. treatment in trade and economics.
The U.S. spokeswoman reiterated a U.S. call for all sides to refrain from violence and said it was important for the Hong Kong government to respect "freedoms of speech and peaceful assembly" and for Beijing to adhere to its commitments.
Another U.S. official said Beijing had stationed large numbers of paramilitary People's Armed Police (PAP) "near and further out from Hong Kong," but there had been no sign they were moving toward the border.
The U.S. official said it appeared to be an effort to intimidate the protesters, but the protests had yet to reach a level that would compel Beijing to send them in.
The Global Times reported on Monday that People's Armed Police had been assembling in Shenzhen, a city bordering Hong Kong, "in advance of apparent large-scale exercises."
It cited video it had obtained showing numerous armored personnel carriers (APCs), trucks and other vehicles on expressways heading in the direction of Shenzhen over the weekend. It noted that the role of the PAP was "dealing with rebellions, riots, serious violent and illegal incidents, terrorist attacks and other social security incidents."
Satellite images made available to Reuters on Wednesday from Maxar Technologies showed dozens of vehicles, including what appeared to be APCs, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre across from Hong Kong.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been seeking a major deal to correct trade imbalances with China, described the Hong Kong situation as "tricky" but said he hoped it would work out for everybody, including China, and "for liberty" without anyone getting hurt or killed.
China has accused the United States of having a hand in the protests and has denied a request for two U.S. Navy warships to visit Hong Kong in the coming weeks, U.S. officials said.
France urged Hong Kong authorities to renew dialogue with protesters to find a peaceful solution.
At Hong Kong airport, which was designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster, blood, debris and signs of the scuffle were scrubbed away during the night, and cleaners and protesters themselves removed anti-government posters from the walls.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways <0293.HK> said a total of 272 departures and arrivals had been canceled because of the disturbances, affecting more than 55,000 passengers.
China's aviation regulator demanded last week that Cathay suspend personnel supporting protests in Hong Kong from staffing flights entering its airspace. On Wednesday, the carrier said it had fired two pilots.
Forward Keys, a flight data firm, said the crisis had driven a 4.7 percent fall in long-haul bookings to Hong Kong between June 16 and Aug. 9 compared with the same period last year.
"I think the local events clearly are having a profound impact, probably in ways that we haven't necessarily clearly articulated yet," Charles Li, chief executive of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, told reporters on Wednesday.
Protesters vowed to press on.
"All the people here are very scared," Ann, a 21-year-old teacher, told Reuters at the airport as she carefully took down anti-government posters, folding them for re-use.
"But we are more scared that we do not have our freedoms anymore, and so that is why we continue our protests," she said.
"We feel that our ideas are bulletproof."
(Reporting by Felix Tam, Tom Westbrook, Donny Kwok, Clare Jim, Twinnie Siu, Noah Sin, Brenda Goh, Tom Peter, Joyce Zhou, Tyrone Siu and Lukas Job in Hong Kong, Andrew Galbraith in Shanghai, David Brunnstrom and Tim Ahmann in Washington and Mathieu Rosemain in Paris; writing by Farah Master and Tom Westbrook; editing by Tony Munroe, Darren Schuettler, Frances Kerry and Jonathan Oatis)


text:
6. Testings and Ministry at Zaraphath (1 Kings 17:8-16)
First Kings 17:8-16 continues God's testing of the Prophet at a place called Zarephath--which actually means "a smelting place." But here, another important element is added to the scenario of Elijah's life as it is recorded for us in Scripture. It's the element of personal ministry or outreach to others. The testing and needs of the Prophet became a means of ministry to a poor widow and her son. As I have tried to stress throughout this series, the events of our lives, even our everyday and seemingly mundane affairs, are not without importance. They are certainly not without God's providential care as the One who works all things after the counsel of His own will. But important to this truth of Scripture is the need of God's people to consider this fact against the varied events of their lives. We must think, trust, and act accordingly. The events of life are tools and agents of the Almighty. He uses these to get our attention, to change our values, character, priorities, pursuits, and above all, to change our sources of trust for security and happiness.
But let's never lose sight of the fact that the same events that test us often become the means by which God is able to use us in ministry to others. In other words, our trials often become vehicles for ministry, opportunities to manifest the life of Jesus Christ and the reality and power of God (2 Cor. 4:8-15). This is precisely what we see in this next episode in the life of Elijah. His need became a means of meeting needs in the lives of the widow and her son.
Does this not serve to remind us again that we are not here for ourselves, even in our pain and need? God cares for us, but we are not alone. He cares for others too, and often seeks to minister to the people around us through the character changes He is seeking to bring about through our own suffering or need.
Christlikeness means that even in our pain we are to think of others and how God may want to use us. This goes totally against the grain of human nature and especially against our self-centered society. Ours is a society that is focused on what is best for me regardless of what it could mean to others. What's best for my career, my happiness, my security, my significance, my . . . (you fill in the blank).
The Revelation to Elijah
A Word From the LORD--COMMUNICATION
The first word we see is the little connective, "then." It continues the story and points us to what happened next in the sequence of events--Elijah received a word from the Lord with instruction. But the sequence here is resultant; it points to a consequence. In the context, this revelation to the prophet is undoubtedly the result of two spiritual facts. First, there is the faithfulness of God. The brook had dried up but God had promised to supply Elijah's need. So the Lord comes to Elijah's rescue. Second, Elijah had met the tests of the brook in faith. He waited on the Lord. He had not run ahead, nor run away to do his own thing, nor complained in discontent. So now, God comes to his rescue and gives new instruction. We see in this the principle of Luke 16:10, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."
Elijah had been faithful in the matter of dwelling by the brook. Now God was moving him out of this place of solitude and testing into a small, but important ministry because all ministries are important. From his faithfulness at Zarephath greater things would come. God was building Elijah's faith, capacity for ministry, and using him to comfort the widow and her son at the same time.
What a person does with a small task is an indication of how he will handle a large one. We may think that the small things are not so important--that they do not really matter. However, faithfulness in the small things prepares us to handle the larger things when they come. Even the small things of life are tests of one's faith and of who is really in control of one's life.
The next words of verse 8 are "the word of the Lord came to him, saying." Let's note a couple of things: First, Elijah did not move until there was communion with God. He waited until he had direction from the Lord--He moved at the Word of the Lord. For Elijah, this was direct revelation, but the principle is God leads and directs us through His Word (which for us is the Bible), and through our communion with Him in Scripture. Of course, the Lord uses other things to give us direction such as open and closed doors, and our own abilities, talents, burdens and interests. He never leads us, however, contrary to the principles and directives of Scripture. Second, this reminds us just how important it is for us to commune with God in His Word so we can know the Word and use it for every decision we face. We can be sure somewhere in Scripture there will be principles that apply. This is not a series on divine guidance, but let me illustrate:
(1) Scripture does not tell us where we should cross the street. But it does tell us to obey the laws of the land and that we are not to tempt the Lord. This means that we should not jay walk in a big city, nor any city where it is against the law and where we are endangering our lives. God does not care where we cross unless we are breaking these two concepts.
(2) The Bible does not tell us what kind of automobile to drive. Frankly, I don't think God cares unless we ignore biblical principles of the wise use of our income, or we want to own a certain automobile because it would make us feel important and is an attempt at finding personal significance.
Simply stated, we all need to do what is necessary to know and apply the Word. This means spending time in the Word daily, and gathering with other Christians for Bible study and worship. We need to learn new truth, review the old, and then apply it all.
Direction From the LORD--INSTRUCTION
1 Kings 17:9 Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you
This verse has three commands, "arise," "go," and "stay." There is also a promise of provision. In each of these there are tests for the prophet. There are tests of faith or trust, of obedience, of availability and commitment, a test of vision for what God was doing in his life, and a test of contentment.
(1) The First Command--"Arise." Of course, before we can move on in the will of God, we must arise, not just physically but spiritually. Following the Lord in obedience is the outcome of spiritual life and spiritual awakening. (Cf. Ephesians 5:8f.)
(2) The Second Command--(the natural outcome): "go to Zarephath." "Go" is a Hebrew word halak which means "to go, walk." In this case, it carries the idea of traveling or journeying, which included hardships and danger. I don't want to make too much of this, but spiritually speaking, to arise is to go. It means to wake up from our apathy and sluggishness and get involved in God's will for our lives. Too often Christians simply sit and soak. Because they are not using what they know in faith, they also eventually begin to sulk, and sour. Rather, God wants us to sit and soak up the Word, but then, by faith to strive for Him in the power of Christ (cf. Col. 1:29). This means our availability to go wherever He wants us. It means our involvement and commitment and all of these are included here. Remember, God's will usually test us in our faith, our vision for what He is doing, our love, availability, values, commitment, and involvement, etc.
I am sure when Elijah heard these commands his heart leaped, and perhaps he thought, "Whew, just in time Lord, but that's sure cutting it close!" As this was going through his mind, he then heard, "to Zarephath." Zarephath comes from tsaraph, "to smelt, refine, test." The verb is used metaphorically with the sense of "to refine by means of suffering." Zarephath means "a smelting place, a place of testing." God uses various testings to refine us and purge out the dross as in the refining of silver and gold. When Elijah heard this name, he probably thought, "Oh oh, here we go again, but the battle is the Lord's and He is in control." Then he heard, "which belongs to Sidon." "Sidon"? He probably thought, "Lord, Sidon belongs to the land of Jezebel, that old prostitute of Baal worship. Lord, this is the center of Baal worship that is now being promoted in Israel. Yes, I know Lord, it's still your battle and you know what you are doing. But this sure seems like strange directions."
(3) The Third Command--"and stay there." Next, he heard "and stay (yashab, "live, dwell") there." He might have thought, "This really takes the cake." And, as if these were not enough, he then heard something even more strange that had to be a tremendous challenge to his commitment, trust and vision as a man of God who was seeking to serve the Lord.
(4) The Promise--"behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." Note the very next word, "behold." This is the Hebrew hinneh, a demonstrative particle used to arrest the attention or to focus the reader's (or hearer's) attention on something important. The Lord was dramatically pointing out the reason for going to Zarephath. "I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." Elijah's provision would come by human hands, but they were the most unlikely hands he could have imagined. Everything about this was a test for Elijah. Please note the following:
"I have commanded a widow" is an interesting statement. Had the Lord spoken to this Gentile widow? Was she waiting for Elijah to come? I think the content of the text suggests this was not the case. I don't think she was aware at all of her role in God's plan. Rather, I believe this expresses the divine will of God. It shows that God commands or wills things to take place and they do. He uses the conditions and dispositions of men and women and brings things to pass.
Let's say you need a job. When you find a job, it will be because God commanded it. Your new employer may not be aware of it unless he or she is a believer, but it will be because God willed it so. "He sits in the heavens, He does what He pleases" (cf. Isa. 10:5-6 with vs. 7, and Gen. 50:19-21).
"Provide" is the Hebrew word, kul. In Aramaic and Arabic this word means "measure, measure out." The basic meaning is "calculate," or "contain" as does a vessel. For instance in Isaiah 40:12 the prophet writes, "who hath calculated or contained the dust of the earth by a measure?" Mainly this verb is used in a causative stem and means "to cause to contain, supply." It came to be used in the sense of "support, sustain, provide for" (cf. Ps. 55:22; Gen. 50:21; Neh. 9:21). While the Hebrew word used is different, I am reminded of one of the Names of the Lord, "Jehovah Jireh" or "Yahweh Yireh," meaning "the Lord will provide" (Gen. 22:8 and 14). It comes from the Hebrew ra`ah, "to see" as the Lord foresees and thus provides.
The Lord's Supply--PROVISION
First, God would provide for Elijah through a woman. While women in Israel had a higher position and status than among their Gentile neighbors, this was highly irregular, for it was the man's place to provide for women. Second, this was a Gentile woman, a woman outside the circle of God's own people. In fact, she was from the pagan nation of the Sidonians (or Phoenicians) who, at that time, represented the forces arrayed against God's kingdom. Third, she was a poor, destitute, depressed widow facing starvation. She wasn't exactly the kind of person you would go to for support, but she was the person whom God had chosen to be Elijah's support and the instrument of God's glory. He didn't know her plight as yet, but he would soon find out and his response is remarkable.
Note several principles of application:
(1) Remember what God said through Isaiah (Isa. 55:8f, God's ways are not ours)? We might also remember 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God." God uses sources and instruments we would never choose, but in His wisdom He chooses them to accomplish His own purposes and to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we could ask or think (Eph. 3:20). We should not be surprised then with the tools God sometimes uses. What would we choose? We would choose a hero kind of figure, a well-known athlete, a rich man or a king, but the Lord chose a destitute widow. We would choose someone brilliant, powerful, perhaps someone in the king's palace. But God chose a woman from Zarephath of the land of Jezebel. Sure, sometimes God uses the powerful and wealthy as he did with Nehemiah (Neh. 2), or Joseph in the latter chapters of Genesis. The question is, what is our response when He chooses to use the poor and the weak in our lives? Do we despise them? Are we disappointed? Or do we thank Him for what He is doing?
(2) The sources God chooses to use often test our submission and faith. How could God possibly supply through this destitute woman? The how is not important. God would show that in time. God only wants us to trust Him regardless of how things look to us. I remember a story my grandfather used to tell about a dear old lady who truly believed God. One day he said to her, "Mary, I believe if God told you to jump through the wall, you would jump." She replied, "Yes sir, I would. If God told me to jump, it would be my job to jump and His to make a hole." How can we rest in God's supply in situations like this? We need to remember a simple but profound concept. Who would supply Elijah's need, the woman or the Lord? The Lord, of course! The woman was only an instrument.
Never get your eyes on the instrument or the conditions. Look beyond the instrument to the real source of supply--the Lord. Read again the story of Abraham in Genesis 22. He saw beyond the immediate problem to the Lord's supply.
Often God either chooses the despised and the small, or He reduces our resources to teach us He is really the One who supplies. See Judges 7 for the illustration of Gideon and God's instruction to him. Lest Israel boast and trust in their own power, the number of men to go up against the Midianites was reduced from 32,000 to 10,000 and finally to 300.
(3) The Lord uses His sources of supply to humble us. Doesn't He really know how to take the starch of self-dependence and pride totally out of our spiritual shirts in order to bring us to a place where we will really trust Him? Here Elijah was receiving aid at the hands of a destitute widow of the enemies of Israel. How humbling! But also, what an opportunity for the manifestation of God's grace, love, and power.
(4) Finally, this teaches us God can use any of us. He can take whatever we have and multiply it many times over just as He did with the meager resources of the widow or as the Savior did when feeding the five thousand.
What was Elijah's response in verse 10? We read, "So he arose and went . . ." No questions, no arguments, no complaints--just obedience. Undoubtedly, it was in the joy and expectation of not only what the Lord would do for him, but through him. Elijah realized he would be there not simply to be ministered to, but to minister.
By way of application:
- Are you in a spiritual condition where you can hear God's instructions? (Mark 6:30f.)
- What are you facing in your life right now that needs God's supply? Are you resting in Him for your needs?
- Where is your focus? Are you focused on the problem rather than the Lord? Are you seeing the agents of supply in your life as totally inadequate with the result you are questioning what God can do?
- Does your present condition look impossible? Does it look like there is no way God can meet your needs through what He has brought about into your life?
- Have you considered that before God meets your need, or that in meeting your need, He wants to use you to meet the need of someone else?
Now we turn to another scene in the life of Elijah. Again, God is preparing him for what is to come. But the story also involves what God is doing in the life of His people, the nation of Israel. Let's not lose sight of the nationalistic interest here. The story deals with more than simply Elijah or his destiny. It also deals with what God was seeking to do in the northern kingdom. It deals with what the northern kingdom was experiencing because of its idolatry. The nation had turned away from the Lord and His Word to the substitutes of the world.
Elijah forms a model for us. We can learn from Elijah about God and about ourselves--our needs, responsibilities in society, and our tendencies under the pressure of the conflict. On the other hand, Israel forms an example of what happens in a society when it ignores God--it goes down hill fast and becomes morally corrupt.
With this in mind, let's ask a question. Why did God send the Prophet into the land of the Sidonians and to this widow as His source of supply when there were many widows in Israel with just as great a need? Apart from God's mercy, His use of this in the life of Elijah and the lessons it has for us in that way, there is another very important lesson here that I would like to address. The answer is found for us in the remarks made by the Lord in Luke 4:23-27. Not only was the nation facing drought and famine in the land, but they were also facing a famine of the Word of God. Because of their indifference, idolatry, and unbelief, God sent Elijah out of the land and to a Gentile widow. This was a form of judgment and has a two-fold significance for us:
This was somewhat prophetic of the church age when, because of Israel's unbelief, God would turn from Israel as a nation and offer the gospel to the Gentile world. Remnants of Israel would still come to Christ, but from the standpoint of the nation and her promised blessings, she would be temporarily set aside (cf. Rom. 11:6-32). Sending Elijah to the widow reminds us of our responsibility to carry the gospel to all men.
This also teaches us we should never take our blessings for granted. Privilege never guarantees success (1 Cor. 10:1-13). It provides the basis for success, but we need to take heed how we use those blessings. When a nation or individuals ignore the Word and turn to the substitutes of the world, they eventually experience the judgment of God. God may finally turn them over to the futility of their own solutions or strategies for life (Rom. 1:18f; Amos 8:11; 2 Tim. 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:10-11).
The Response of Elijah
Both in 1 Kings 17:5 and 17:10, we see how the prophet moved only when he had a word from the Lord. Even though the brook was drying up, he remained by the brook until word came from God. Isaiah 28:16 says, "he that believeth will not make haste" (KJV). The RSV has, "he who believes will not make haste," and the NASB has "he who believes in it (the cornerstone) will not be disturbed."
Interestingly, this statement of Isaiah 28:16 is made following a reference to lsrael's deceptive trusts--her dependence on her own human solutions. Rather than waiting on the Lord, Israel was running ahead to solve her problems and fears through her own strategies. But Elijah waited on the Lord and help arrived. But in what manner? He was commanded to go on a long and toilsome journey through wild and barren country. Further, with so many widows in the land, how was he to find the right one? Isn't this a natural question? It appears he didn't know who the widow was, but he knew the Lord who did and that was more than ample.
Elijah was operating by the principle of Proverbs 4:18, "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the full day." While this verse refers primarily to the moral rectitude of those who walk with the Lord, it may also illustrate how the Lord directs our paths making His will plain as we walk in His righteousness by faith. The righteous live by faith. Day-by-day, step-by-step as we walk in fellowship with the Lord, He leads and directs the path of the righteous (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17).
Again, being consistent in faith, Elijah did not argue with the Lord, whine, complain, nor run away. Instead, we read, "So he arose and went." No questions, no arguments, no complaints, just obedience and undoubtedly, in the joy and expectation of what the Lord would do not only in him and for him, but through him. Why? Because, like the Lord Jesus, he would be there not simply to be ministered to, but to minister. I expect also he understood why he was not being sent to the widows of Israel. Also, it was God's way of removing Elijah from Jezebel's reach.
The Relief to the Widow
When you and I measure what God is doing, we tend to measure it by what we see and think according to the natural man. We tend to measure God's supply, or our confidence and hope in God's supply, by what we see. When we do this, we are walking by sight rather than by faith. The question we need to ask ourselves is: "Do I tend to look at human conditions as a basis for my confidence or do I see through them to the Savior?"
Obviously, we need to know human conditions. We need to know the facts. For this reason, God allowed the spies to go into the land, but what they saw was not to become the basis of their confidence in what God could do nor for what they should do. That was to be found in God's person, promises, and commands to go in.
Let's note Elijah's response: Our text tells us, "and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks." Again, we have the word "behold," that little demonstrative particle, hinneh, which is designed to arrest attention. We find Elijah at the gate of the city of Zarephath, but the Lord, who was there before him, had arranged it all. The widow was by the gate gathering sticks by the providence of God. Remember, He leads us step-by-step. He never leaves us, indeed, He goes before us.
If Elijah was looking for something to encourage him from the human standpoint of the widow, like a well-dressed woman living in a luxurious house with a well-stocked pantry, his hopes were soon dispelled. "Gathering sticks," was a sign of poverty. This woman was so poor she had no fuel, and in order to cook even a meager meal, she had to get out and round up a few sticks. Until now Elijah knew only that his source of supply was a widow. Now he knew she was a poor widow.
By human measurement, how reasonable was it that the man of God could expect sustenance under her roof? It was no more reasonable than Noah should build an ark before he had ever seen rain, much less a flood, or for Joshua to command the people to walk around Jericho and expect the walls to fall down. But the path of obedience is the path of faith that looks to God and not to circumstances both before and after the will of God is clear.
Elijah's response is the issue. Remember that the brook was a preparation for him. The God who commanded the ravens and supplied through them, was the same God who had commanded the widow and would supply through her. The principle is the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Circumstances change, but the Lord never changes. Our circumstances do not diminish the character and power of God. They can in no way change His faithfulness or omnipotence.
Elijah responded in faith. But how did faith manifest itself? Like Abraham on Mount Moriah who looked to God for the supply of a lamb, so Elijah saw beyond the woman's condition to Yahweh Yireh--Lord who provides. He did not judge according to sight, but according to God's character and divine essence. Elijah trusted in the promises of God. He didn't throw up his hands and say, "I don't believe this! You mean this poor soul is my supply for food? How in thunder can she help me?" He responded to God rather than reacting. Elijah acted in faith with his eyes on the Lord. In verses 10 and 11, he asked the widow for a jar of water and a piece of bread. Was he believing the promise of God and acting on it, or was he looking for confirmation by her response that she had been expecting him and had plenty to eat? I think he was believing the promise of God because Elijah knew she was poor by the fact she was gathering sticks.
In verse 12 we see the widow's response. Elijah's request opened afresh the wounds and pain of her heart. She could conceal her pain no longer. Her words showed she was not only poor but severely depressed. She had given up and was ready to die. This was their last meal and after that they would simply starve. It also appears she was without any real knowledge of the Lord and without faith. Still her heart was ready and had been prepared for God's Word and the ministry of Elijah.
Note her words in verse 12, "as the Lord your God lives." This suggests she must have recognized Elijah as a prophet of Israel, perhaps by his dress (cf. 2 Kings 1:8). But Yahweh was not her God and she wasn't all that sure about the honesty of Elijah or the reality of his God (cf. vs. 17:24). She needed to see the testimony of Elijah's life as well as the power of God.
What was Elijah to do now? Was he mistaken? What gave Elijah the courage to act like he did instead of throwing in the towel? Remember, as a man thinketh, so is he! Elijah's response in verses 13 and 14 were words of faith, compassion, and vision.
As a man of God, he undoubtedly felt compassion for this poor woman but he knew his solutions or strategies for meeting his or her needs were not sufficient. He knew she was poor, yet God's source of supply was no accident or mistake. Elijah knew God was faithful, powerful, and purposeful and that his needs were God's concern and that they were met in the Lord. He also knew God was aware of his longings to preach in Israel and this would need to be tabled for now and turned over to the Lord and His timing. This meant he must be available to serve others and trust the Lord for his needs.
For us today, Elijah's words to the woman in verses 13 and 14 are equivalent to two things: (a) Giving others the promises of God's love, concern, and care such as the promises of Philippians 4:19; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22; and John 10:10. Please note the first half of John 10:10. We often fail to connect the two. (b) Acting as the Good Samaritan; sharing our blessings with others, knowing that our giving will not be our lack (Phil 4:19).
The woman listened to Elijah's instruction and it was just as he had promised according to the Word of the Lord. She saw the power of God--the widow, her son, and Elijah were all sustained.
What lessons can we learn from this passage?
(1) Look beyond the circumstances to the Lord as Yahweh Yireh--the Lord who supplies.
(2) Never judge or measure God's supply by what you can see. He is the One who does exceeding abundantly beyond all we can ask or think.
(3) Ask God for the vision needed to see the opportunity for ministry lying, perhaps, right under your nose.
(4) Ask God for the compassion and love needed to reach out to others with His power and love.
(5) Know that the Lord is aware of your longings and turn them over to Him.
(6) Know also that your basic needs have been met in Christ. Knowing that, commit yourself to fulfilling God's purposes in your life.
God sent Elijah out of the land because the people were indifferent--indeed, rebellious to the Word of God. No man or nation can neglect God's truth without dire consequences. It can mean a famine, not just for bread and water, but for hearing the Word. This is not just a matter of what God does to us, but what we do to ourselves, of what happens within mankind that hardens us and causes us to ignore and turn away from God.
Far too often today when people look for a church they choose one like they would a country club or a shopping mall, on the basis of consumerism rather than on the teaching of the Word of God and the ministry of its people to one another. Many times the basis of their choice is not the solid teaching of the Word, but programs, music, the number of youth, the activities, and other similar consumer-like issues. Our nation is filled with steeples, but there is a famine in our land. Not a famine of food and water but of the proclamation of the Word of the Lord.
Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Character Study


text: Schlagwort #E-Tech C The industry's most trusted independent news briefing. electrive today today, Mon-Fri Delivered to your inbox every weekday, straight, to the point, and free of charge. Learn more I accept the privacy policy Subscribe now! Last commented Octopus launches V2G tariff as a UK-firstAudi want to build the next Q8 e-tron in MexicoAptera Motors secures funds necessary to kick off productionFox e-mobility to revive the Mia 2.0Carver trike makes comeback with electric drive Most read BMW no longer builds combustion engines in GermanyVolvo Group purchases ProterraBMW receives first solid-state cells from Solid PowerOctopus launches V2G tariff as a UK-firstTesla NACS to become an official charging standard in North America Start More articles


text:
First Place: Richmond City Schools
Second Place: President Donald Trump
Third Place: Crime
Richmonders are worried about schools. The abrupt departure of superintendent Dana Bedden — though no one is saying exactly why — is only one of the most recent signs. The city has proven its ability to attract the desirable creative class, many of whom choose to live in the city. Problem is, once many of those people become parents, they high-tail it to the counties for better schools. Richmond city schools must improve to encourage families to stay put. Positive developments in addressing the substantial needs of those schools includes Mayor Levar Stoney's proposed increase, including teacher pay, in the school's budget, and next is figuring out how to best use the $8.3 million surplus the school system recently revealed it has.


text:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a hearing focusing on energy security and the environment in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region on Tuesday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m. in room B-318 Rayburn House Office Building.
WHAT: U.S. Helsinki Commission Hearing on Energy Security and the Environment
WHEN: Tuesday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: B-318 Rayburn House Office Building
Oil prices and food prices are both reaching record highs—is there a link between the two? At the same time we are facing competing demands to feed the world, protect the environment, and keep economies around the world growing. This hearing entitled, "Clearing the Air, Feeding the Fuel Tank: Understanding the Link between Energy and Environmental Security," will seek solutions to these questions by examining the environmental aspects of energy security, specifically looking at the role that environmental technologies can play in increasing energy security and combating climate change by reducing demand on hydrocarbon resources. Witnesses will discuss the role of alternative energy sources, including biofuels, and what policies are needed to ensure that alternative energy sources do not create secondary problems such as other types of pollution or food shortages. The hearing will also examine the prospects for developing countries in the OSCE region, and whether or not they can incorporate sustainable energy policies without harming their economic development.
This hearing reflects the culmination of a series of hearings on energy security held by the Commission, including "Pipeline Politics: Achieving Energy Security in the OSCE Region," in June 2007 and "Energy and Democracy: Oil and Water?" in July 2007.
Dr. Jonathan Pershing, Director, Climate, Energy and Pollution Program, World Resources Institute
Dr. Richard Bradley, Head, Energy Efficiency and Environment Division, International Energy Agency
Ms. Jetta Wong, Senior Policy Associate, Agriculture & Energy Program at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Mr. Justin M. Lee, CEO, Nexsun Energy, Inc.
Dr. Alex Marker, Director for Research and Development, SCHOTT North America


text:
Effluent should be recycled back into brewery operations with less reticence than is currently the case. Throughout many parts of the world, we encounter areas or entire regions where water is scarce and water quality highly suspect. In these situations beer quality is often compromised and production schedule disrupted. The use of properly treated effluent presents the brewer with a safer option and greater security of supply.
There is little doubt that today technology exists to cost-effectively and sustainably remove all pollutants from brewery effluent streams. And, thereby, we can produce a water quality that is chemically safe for human consumption as well as chemistry entirely in-step with even the most stringent of compliance schedules.
Where water is supplied by the local councils in developing countries, availability can be an issue. Rampant urbanisation often negates any advances made in bulk water supply and distribution. Very commonly, the microbiology can be far from safe and introduces an unknown human health risk to the brewer through the presence of pathogens.
The treatment train required to achieve the necessary water quality for reuse in brewery operations has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. While there are still reasonable variations in the field, the industry benchmark currently has settled on the following format. The first step is undeniably biological and over the last 5 to 10 years this has been a dual step of anaerobic and aerobic treatment arranged in series. The anaerobic treatment is classically of the UASB (Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Bed) configuration and the aerobic phase is preferably of the MBR (Membrane Biological Reactor) type where clarification is achieved using ultra-filtration membranes to produce a high-quality intermediate water. A small amount of this water can be reused in specific user points where the water quality required is appropriate.
Typically, this ultra-filtration water needs further treatment. Elevated concentrations of various inorganic species in the effluent make it necessary to follow the biological steps with reverse osmosis (RO). RO membranes are used to split the effluent into two streams; a permeate and a brine. The permeate stream is largely made up of water molecules with only trace levels of ions such as sodium, low levels of ammonia and practically no organic residuals. The membranes act as an absolute biological barrier to any living organisms in whatever form, removing them with 100 percent efficiency.
The brine contains the rest of the chemical and biological components, and needs to be discharged to the environment. This permeate water is not yet usable and requires a few post-treatment steps. We usually recommend the use of activated carbon as a precautionary measure. Activated carbon filters will mop up any small traces of ammonia, colour, odour, or taste that may end up in the permeate stream. Cooling is often required in tropical environments where the treated effluent could still be in excess of 35°C. This water is now suitable for user points that require very soft water, such as boiler feed. The rest of the water requires disinfection to prevent downstream microbiological contamination and/or conditioning to ensure appropriate hardness and conductivity.
An advantage of the beer industry is that brewery effluent lacks troublesome pollutants such as mercury, harmful pathogens, or hormonal and pesticide residues. The above described treatment train effectively removes all pollutant groups present in a brewery effluent.
So, if the consensus among water scientists is that existing technology can produce a demonstrably safe water supply, why the visceral opposition still clearly in evidence throughout the industry? Why, scientists want to know, the emotive preoccupation with the history rather than the chemistry of the water supply? The worsening water crisis in many parts of the world is expected to increasingly challenge these traditional and often archaic sentiments against recycled effluent. After all, even in nature, all water is recycled.
Besides, is it not common for entire cities in both developing and developed countries to rely to some degree on recycled wastewater for their bulk water supply. We do not hear of a consumer backlash against the use of contaminated groundwater. That practice itself constitutes, in part, the recycling of wastewater. Where it is practised formally, it even has a name: aquifer recharge. A bit of "out-of-sight, out-of-mind."
It's also accepted as "normal" that a Londoner will open his tap to water that could have been used and cleaned several times. Much work is needed to unravel the actual perceptions of the general public that taps into this irrational fear. There are sporadic reports of studies that have strived to explain the "yuk" factor that fuels the consumer's dread of one recycled water supply but leaves him or her un-phased of another. This psychology is the same encountered in arid towns in Australia, where formidable resistance to treated sewage has hampered critical development of wastewater reuse.
There are many up-sides to the practice of water recycling in breweries besides improving security of supply, reducing water ratios, and the resultant reduction in its environmental footprint. Part of the treatment train -- anaerobic digestion -- reduces about 85 percent of the organic content of the effluent by converting it first to volatile fatty acids, and then to methane. This not only affords the opportunity to replace around 10 percent of the fossil fuel use in the boilers, but also reduces the need to consume electricity in downstream municipal or collective treatment plants. A 1 Mhl/yr brewery can produce as much as 0.46 MW of power from the anaerobic digestion of its effluent, and in addition save a further 0.11 MW of power utilisation at downstream municipal sewage treatment plant, giving a net advantage of 0.57 MW. Treatment also removes nuisance nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphate, and prevents them from entering the receiving environment.
Furthermore, recycled water is typically produced on the brewery site, by staff that is either employed, or at least sanctioned, by the brewery. This provides an element of control that could be a tangible relief in environments where the operational and maintenance control of the water utility companies are poor or non-existent.
Many breweries today are setting their sights audaciously on ever diminishing water ratios, some as low as 2.2 hl:hl. This cannot be achieved solely by shutting taps, fixing leaks, and internal recycling. In fact, such targets are not achievable without aggressive recycling of treated effluent. A 20-year-old brewery with old equipment but a reasonable water management program may achieve a water ratio of 4.2 hl:hl. Recycling 65 percent of the brewery's effluent leads to an approximate 50 percent reduction in the volume of water that needs to be brought on site and has the prospects of reducing the water ratio to 2.2 hl:hl.
This reduction in water usage takes on extreme significance in breweries that are embedded in water-scarce communities. A typical 1.5 Mhl/yr brewery at a water ratio of 7 hl:hl will consume the equivalent water of 35,700 people, and can be conceived as an irresponsible guzzler. Put another way, in one day, that same brewery will consume what a developing world family will consume in 14 years. In these circumstances, it is difficult for the brewery management to claim good environmental performance without demonstrable evidence of water recovery.
There is little doubt that returning treated effluent back into the brewery operations should be practised with great care. Besides ensuring stringent operating procedures and rigorous quality assurance programmes, there are numerous qualifiers that need to accompany the reuse programme. Possibly chief among them is the strict need to prevent ingress of domestic sewage into the effluent reticulation. Exhaustive testing needs to be done using a variety of techniques including dye tracer studies to verify that streams emanating from ablutions facilities are kept segregated and discharged separately from the effluent.
Where the brewer is assured of a secured supply of good water quality the drivers for water recovery largely disappear due to the higher capital and operating costs associated with the required treatment steps. These added costs, combined with added operating and maintenance complexities will otherwise limit treatment to anaerobic and aerobic treatment. Unlike the GHG crisis, the water crisis is far more of a regional phenomenon and cannot on its own merit further treatment that is required for safe release of the effluent to its receiving environment.
The resultant increase in process complexity with components such as ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis is very real. These are engineering processes and equipment that are often foreign to the brewer. It is not surprising that we find such treatment trains are best operated and maintained on an outsourced basis by a specialist utility company. Operational experience is key not only in treatment area, but also in managing events within the brewery so as to ensure appropriate quality of the brewery effluent.
A properly crafted wastewater management plan can anticipate and successfully mitigate all these difficulties so as to safeguard the realisation of a water recycling program.
The brewery industry can afford the luxury of debating whether beer can be brewed without malt, but it cannot escape the simple fact that beer cannot be brewed without water. With proper care, reuse of treated effluent can alleviate the constraints of poor water supply, as is already the case in a few breweries around the world. All this will demand is a shift in attitude. Over the last 50 years, we have moved from the general consensus that water was an infinite resource to our current understanding. Now is the time to bury the "yuk" factor once and for all.
It is high time that one of the larger beer producers takes the bold step of producing a beer that is proudly presented as a genuine, full- recycled drink and marketed as a green product. Others will follow. Maybe we will yet produce beer without water -- at least without freshwater -- whatever that might be.
For further information in Australia, please contact Mr Michael Bambridge, Managing Director, CST Wastewater Solutions at [email protected] or www.cstwastewater.com.


text:
All Products
(29 Total)
View by Size:
Synopsis: | The circularity of violence seen in a story that circles on itself. In Macedonia, during war in Bosnia... |
Directed by: | Hal Ashby |
Producer(s): | Lorimar Prods, Andrew Braunsberg Productions. |
Cast: | Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart |